Despite the cold rainy night, the Voorhees Town Center municipal office was full of residents concerned about the Kirkwood Lake cleanup on Nov. 17. Representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency, Sherwin-Williams, Camden County, Voorhees and other local offices came out to inform citizens about updates on the cleanup.
“The frustration among residents has been horrendous. Look at how many people are here in the room. I can’t think of another subject where so many people come out constantly for an issue,” said Alice Johnston, president of the Kirkwood Lake Environmental Committee.
According to a release by Sherwin-Williams, in May, Sherwin-Williams submitted the draft remedial investigation and feasibility study for the residential properties adjacent to the Superfund Sites, including the dump site, burn site, former manufacturing plant, and Hilliards Creek and Kirkwood Lake. EPA reviewed the documents and provided comments to Sherwin-Williams in July and August.
A number of meetings were held during the fall to discuss comments and work through technical issues. The EPA, DEP and Sherwin-Williams have reached consensus on a number of items, and Sherwin-Williams is revising the remedial investigation and feasible study. The EPA still owes Sherwin-Williams some samples and information. After the information is received, Sherwin-Williams has 30 days to get the paperwork in.
“Before we can come up with a remedy that can be costed, we need more information. We are not saving money by dragging this out. We are not dragging our feet to prolong the process. Unfortunately it is complicated,” said Mary Lou Capichioni of Sherwin-Williams.
Once these documents are approved, the EPA will select the preferred remedy, which will be presented in a proposed plan and will be subject to public comment. Ray Klimcsak, remedial project manager from the EPA, said the public will get 30 days for comments, however if a request by the public is made for an extension, then it can last longer.
The EPA anticipates the finalized remedy will be completed this fiscal-year, which ends Sept. 30, 2015, according to the Sherwin-Williams release.
However, that is just for the residential sites plan. Residents voiced their concerns about the lake as a whole. Klimcsak explained that first they are working on the residential ROD then they will go to the dump site, then the burn site, to the former manufacturing plant and finally to Hillard Creek, working their way from upstream down.
“I think for the first time there are coordinated meetings and effort together. I think we are coming close to getting there. I do believe there is a way to get this done, and we are advancing the ball pretty quickly,” County Freeholder Jeffery Nash said.
Camden County presented a preliminary proposal that could potentially expedite dredging of Kirkwood Lake to help address an ongoing problem with spatterdocks. The county proposed an arrangement where Sherwin-Williams would pay the cost of disposal of contaminated sediments from the county’s dredging of Kirkwood Lake.
Camden County is working with NJDEP to develop a dredging plan. So far, a dry dredging has been suggested. The dry dredging would mean drying out some of the lake to make removal of the contaminates easier. The lake would be dried enough to be able to remove some of the contaminants without stirring the contaminants back into the lake, but also not affecting fish and other wildlife.
Residents asked for a timeline of when all these events and projects would occur. Klimcsak explained that a timeline can be put on the website, but there are no exact dates because many of the projects are contingent on one another.
Klimcsak also said during the meeting that the EPA plans to hold a meeting explaining everything for residents who are new to the project or who want to learn more. An exact date was not announced. Johnston asked that everyone — residents, Camden County, EPA, NJDEP and Sherwin-Williams — keep in touch with one another. She also asked that people like and check the Kirkwood Lake Clean Up page on Facebook for updates.
“Please continue to be passionate about this cause. Please continue to push it forward,” Johnston said.
